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Scripture
26When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it after Jesus. 27A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.
*Luke 23.26-27 (ASV)
1It happened soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God. With him were the twelve, 2and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others; who ministered to them [or, “him”] from their possessions.
*Luke 8.1-3 (ASV)
Wisdom Words
Stagnation in spiritual life comes when we say we will bear the whole thing ourselves. We cannot. We are so involved in the universal purposes of God that immediately [when we obey] God, others are affected.
*Oswald W. Chambers. My Utmost for His Highest.
All human relationships, be they between parents and children, husbands and wives, lovers and friends, or between members of a community, are meant to be signs of God's love for humanity as a whole and each person in particular. This is a very uncommon viewpoint, but it is the viewpoint of Jesus.
*Henri J. M. Nouwen. Here and Now.
Comments
Spirituality is personal and communal. These two apparent opposites are not opposites, they are one. For I cannot know myself without knowing myself in relationship, and I cannot know community without knowing myself in myself.
The more I become who I am already potentially, the more I enrich community to become what it is already potentially. The more I become one in community, the more I become myself.
Even my personal obedience to God touches the life of everyone close to me. I cannot say "Yes" to Christ without it affecting the life of family, friends, my dear beloved, members of the church I serve as pastor, ... If my prayerful choices ultimately make me to become more of who God designed me to be, then, the discomfort those choices might bring to others close to me cannot rightly deter me from following where I see God leading me. If I say "No" to God to save friends and family from discomfort or protect myself from their disapproval, then, I am both unfaithful to them and myself, as well as to God.
If I say "Yes" to God, I become a living sign of Divine Love to all persons who are in community with me. My obedience, for those who approve or disapprove, opens possibility that they will say a more self-abandoned "Yes" to God. If they say "Yes," of course, that "Yes" will in turn affect me.
These truths make clear that there is a difference between a private faith and a personal faith. There is no such thing as having a private religion or a private spirituality. We are all threads of a Web, when one part of the Web is touched, the whole Web vibrates. The Divine moves us and is moved by us, even as we move each other and all of us: this is part of the Mystery of the Being of God.
Our readings today show Jesus living out this personal and community Truth. While he is led toward Calvary, Simon bears his cross. Imagine the role in salvation for all persons Simon played by being affected that day by the obedience of Jesus. Can you see the women following Jesus toward Golgotha? Can you see and feel their sorrow as they were deeply impacted by what was being done to their son, friend, and teacher?
The passage Luke 8.1-3 shows us the emerging spiritual community gathering around Christ, already touched deeply by his obedience to God. This became the nucleus of the Jesus movement. In this gathering of persons around Jesus, we see a new sign emerging in history, a sign of a new, spiritual union.
This is the beginning spiritual church, in Christ an icon of the Presence and Grace of God. This icon, transcending and flowing outside geographic and religious definitions of "church" and "Church," is a living sign and witness of the Love and Nature of God. This mystical Body of Christ is the interdependent life of all following the Way of Love, regardless of confession or creed. Where anyone or any community is an icon of Christ, there is Christ and the spiritual Church, regardless of awareness or lack of awareness of identity with the historical manifestations of the Way. For one can know the Way intellectually, while not knowing it heartfully.
God looks on the heart. Where a living icon of Christ is, in person or community, there is Christ. This "Yes" resonates, touching everyone and ushering in the mystery of the Kingdom of God and the graces of Christ.
The historical manifestations of the Church, then, are faithful only as they are spiritual signs and icons to all persons of the Word entering history that all persons might know Jesus as Center of the Resonating Web.
What does it mean to be a living icon of Christ?
What is the difference between the spiritual, or mystical, Church and what most mean by Church, or church?
Can you recall when you made a decision to obey God that deeply affected the lives of persons close to you? How did they respond? How did you respond to their responses?
How are you being a living sign of Divine Love?
Simon was not aware of what an important role he was playing in the Divine design of salvation for all peoples? Is it possible you are not aware of important ways God has used (is using) you in His plans to change lives around you? Looking back over your life, do you now see how God was using you in important ways that at the time you had no idea of? Explain.
*Brian K. Wilcox is Pastor of Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. He is a vowed member of Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community. His passion is living a contemplative life and inspiring others to experience a deeper relationship with Christ through contemplative prayer and living.
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